Abstract

Attempts were made to develop a simplified procedure for long-term cryopreservation of intestinal smooth muscle cells (ISMC). ISMC were collected from the ileum of Sprague–Dawley neonatal rats through cellular dissociation in trypsin. Cryopreservation method comprised of a rapid 1-step (protocol 1) and a slow 3-step (protocol 2) freezing of ISMC for 1 week. Preparations were thawed and single ISMC were assessed via the comet assay and damaged DNA was quantified through comet tail moment. The control unfrozen ISMC exhibited DNA damage of 2.34 ± 0.35 compared to ISMC cooled via protocol 2 (2.62 ± 0.36) and protocol 1 (10.15 ± 0.72). Thereafter, protocol 2 freezing method was adopted and ISMC were cryopreserved for 1-week, 1-month, and 4-months to analyse the temporal and long-term cryopreservation of ISMC. This revealed a DNA damage of 2.62 ± 0.36 (1-week), 3.81 ± 0.72 (1-month), and 5.1 ± 0.9 (4-months). Gradual cooling is suitable for continuing storage of ISMC and although fluctuation in cryoinjury is observed with time this is considered to reflect cell-to-cell variability